Predicting the outcome of another Clemson-Alabama football showdown

Last week, I gave you my predictions for the College Football Playoff semifinal games, where I had No. 1 Clemson beating No. 4 Texas in the Peach Bowl and No. 2 Alabama defeating No. 3 Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl. As you might have already guessed, those outcomes would set up another Clemson vs. Alabama National Championship game.

So, what is going to happen if these two teams match up again in January of 2020? Here is my prediction for Clemson vs. Alabama Part V:

Most college football fans might be dreading this potential matchup because we’ve seen these two teams play at some point in every playoff since 2015. However, I promise you that Tigers fans and Crimson Tide fans are welcoming another high-stake battle. They have not gotten tired of this heavyweight fight.

Last year, Clemson demolished the Crimson Tide, winning by 28 points and holding Alabama to zero points in the second half. Most people believe Alabama’s defense will be improved this season, because they are no longer as young as they were last year. However, the Crimson Tide secondary has really struggled to defend the Tigers’ two 6-foot-4 wide receivers, Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins, and I’m not sure Alabama can improve enough in the secondary to shut those two down, especially with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback.

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The Crimson Tide will still have a high-powered offense, but their running game won’t be as powerful as last season, partly because of their rebuilt offensive line and partly because Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr. won’t match the production generated by Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs last season. There will be more pressure than ever before on Tua Tagovailoa to make the right reads and not turn the ball over, because Alabama will struggle to establish the run game against Clemson.

Alabama’s strength is its receiving corps, but Clemson’s strength is its back seven on defense, and specifically, its secondary. A.J. Terrell, Tanner Muse, K’Von Wallace and outside linebacker Isaiah Simmons impressed last year vs. Alabama, so who is to say they can’t shut down the Crimson Tide’s wideouts for a second straight game? I’m not sure Alabama will be held to just 16 points again, but I don’t believe they will score more than 28 on Clemson’s defense.

Finally, that brings us to Lawrence, Travis Etienne and Clemson’s offense, which many believe will be the best and most balanced offense in the country. With the way Lawrence throws the ball, one-on-one situations with Higgins and Ross in the boundary will be almost unstoppable, just like last year. And then there’s Etienne, who didn’t even play his best game in last year’s National Championship contest and still finished with 86 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Call me a homer, blame it on Clemson’s schedule and say what you want about Dabo Swinney, but as it stands right now, I see Clemson winning its third national title in four years this coming January. If my prediction comes to fruition, no one will spend the offseason debating if the premier program in the country resides in Alabama or South Carolina – the answer will be crystal clear.

Prediction: Clemson 41, Alabama 28

Next week, in my final predictive column before the season starts, I will breakdown who is going to win the Heisman Trophy.

Kelly Gramlich can be heard from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday on “Out of Bounds” with William Qualkinbush on WCCP 105.5 The Roar. Find her on Twitter (@kellygramlich).